Uncapped spinner Yasir Shah named for Australia Tests

Abdur Rehman not included in 19-man preliminary squad


Afp October 14, 2014

KARACHI: Pakistan named uncapped leg-spinner Yasir Shah on Tuesday to replace the suspended Saeed Ajmal in their preliminary 19-man squad, but there was no room for Ajmal’s spinning partner Abdur Rehman for the two Tests against Australia that start next week in the UAE.

Shah, 28, was one of the leading wicket-takers in the domestic season last year, with 48 scalps, but had little success in ODIs or the two T20s he played on the tour of Zimbabwe three years ago.

He is yet to play a Test but chief selector Moin Khan said he expects Shah to deliver. "Shah is one of the fast-rising spinners at the domestic level and we have hopes that he will come good against Australia," said Moin.

The first Test begins in Dubai on October 22 and the second in Abu Dhabi on October 30.

Pakistan have a tough task ahead to replace Ajmal, who has played a vital role in almost all of the team's wins across all three formats over the last five years.

Left-arm spinners Zulfiqar Babar and Raza Hasan – who both played in the 3-0 one-day series defeat against Australia in the UAE which finished on Sunday – are also in the preliminary squad.

Experienced batsman Younus Khan returns to the Test squad after being dropped for the one-day series against Australia.

Meanwhile Rehman, who endured a poor run in Sri Lanka where Pakistan lost both Tests in August, was left out as the selectors unanimously opposed his selection.

The exclusion of Rehman – on 99 wickets in 22 Test appearances – means Pakistan will be fielding an entirely new bowling attack, with him, Ajmal, Wahab Riaz and Junaid Khan all missing out.

The announcement of a preliminary Test squad came after Riaz and Junaid were injured during the one-day series against Australia.

"We will reduce the Test squad to 15 after the four-day practice match between Pakistan 'A' and Australia in Sharjah starting on Wednesday," said Moin.

Two uncapped pacemen, Imran Khan and Ataullah, are also in the initial squad.

Ataullah's bowling action was reported in the national T20 tournament but Moin said his action was cleared after adjustments.

Misbahul Haq will lead the Test side.

Clarke hopes Australia carry momentum

Fit-again Australian captain Michael Clarke said yesterday he hopes his team can carry the momentum of its T20 and one-day wins over Pakistan into the Test series.

The 33-year-old, who sat out the one-day series due to a hamstring injury, will test his fitness in the four-day preparation match against Pakistan 'A'.

"It's obviously a different format of the game but the players that have been involved in T20 and one-day series will take that confidence into the Test matches," said Clarke.

 

Squad: Misbahul Haq (capt), Ahmed Shehzad, Muhammad Hafeez, Taufeeq Umar, Shan Masood, Sami Aslam, Younus Khan, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Haris Sohail, Mohammad Talha, Rahat Ali, Imran Khan, Ehsan Adil, Ataullah, Sarfraz Ahmed, Zulfiqar Babar, Yasir Shah, Raza Hassan.

 

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COMMENTS (1)

Stone | 9 years ago | Reply

I dont understand why pcb get the brains to include boys in squad when they have crossed 27?

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